An excerpt from: The ‘#degrowth’ movement envisions global #ClimateJustice, but must adapt to #GlobalSouth realities

Published: February 6, 2025
by Claudius Gräbner-Radkowitsch and Birte Strunk

What about the global south?

"Today, many degrowth advocates assert that the richer countries of the global north, being largely responsible for environmental degradation, should be the ones to scale back economic activity to avert ecological catastrophe. But what about the poorer countries of the global south? Should they adopt degrowth strategies? Some argue this would impose a #neocolonial agenda, with wealthier countries once again dictating the terms of global development. Others note that many poorer countries need economic growth to combat poverty. And even if degrowth were limited to the north, it could still have significant effects on the south – both positive and negative.

"A review of academic literature on degrowth and the global south reveals two main perspectives: those who see degrowth as incompatible with the south’s development needs, and those who believe it could offer synergies with sustainable development goals.

"Supporters of degrowth often point out that many of its core ideas originate in the global south. Anthropologist Jason Hickel cites figures such as Sri Lankan philosopher #AnandaCoomaraswamy, Indian economist #JCKumarappa and Bengali poet #RabindranathTagore as inspirations. While these thinkers may not use the term 'degrowth', they promote ideas aligned with it, such as the Latin American #SumakKawsay (or “#BuenVivir”) or the South African #Ubuntu. These non-Western perspectives have been instrumental in shaping the degrowth discourse in the global north.

Degrowth as decolonisation

"Degrowth advocates argue that scaling back economic activity in the north could help dismantle the unequal global division of labour, in which raw materials are extracted from the south and processed into consumer goods in the north. This system disproportionately benefits wealthier nations while leaving poorer countries with the social and #environmental costs.

"#FedericoDemaria, a researcher in political ecology, argues that northern countries must 'pay for past and present #colonial #exploitation in the south' – a central theme in contemporary degrowth discourse.

"Some researchers suggest that dependence on economic growth is problematic for both the north and south. They argue that growth alone does not guarantee poverty reduction – wealth distribution and institutional reforms are just as crucial. Degrowth could help both regions avoid #unsustainable development models by focusing more on social well-being than perpetual economic expansion."

Read more:
https://theconversation.com/the-degrowth-movement-envisions-global-climate-justice-but-must-adapt-to-global-south-realities-238276
#SolarPunkSunday #PostColonialism